GAME REPORT

Derek Raivio was one of five players to finsh in double figures for Okapi Aalstar

Okapi Aalstar moved to 2-0 in Group E of the EuroChallenge with a 99-68 win over BCMU Pitesti in Belgium.

Ioana Tofi scored 16 points to lead five Aalstar players scoring in double figures as they dominated the game from start to finish.

Pankracije Barac scored the opening points of the game for Pitesti, but it would be their only lead as Okapi responded with 11 straight points, seven of them scored by Tofi.

Sir Jason Clark's dunk to end the first period stretched the lead into double figures at 25-14.

Pitesti did their best to come back at them to start the second, cutting the gap to 26-20 on Drasko Albijanic's lay-up, but it was only a temporary blip from Okapi, who were up 50-32 on an alley-oop dunk from Larry Anderson just before half-time.

They only continued to pull away in the second half, with a three-pointer from Ryan Thompson making it 70-46 with 3:47 left in the third.

COACH QUOTES

Pitesti head coach Tudor Costescu"Congratulations to Aalst, they played very well. They had extra-ordinary percentages on 2pts and 3pts. We had problems with scoring with only 5 players scoring out of 9 and we couldn't stop the fast break of Aalstar."

Pitesti player Pankracije Barac"We started very bad and the game was going one direction all the time. We missed a lot of shots, Aalst didn't and played with more energy due to the fact that we had some injuries. I congratulate Aalst to their solid game."

Aalst head coach Brad Dean"By winning this game we did a great job. It wasn't the perfect game. We had periods with a lack of concentration and then we turned the ball over too much. Everyone expected an easy victory but those kind of games are the most difficult to win. My team showed a lot of intensity and they played well together. But Pitesti is a good team. For the return match I don't expect an easy game."

Aalst player John Tofi"We started the game very agressive on both sides. We dit a great job on the open court. We played well together and we have created a lot of big shots. In the second quarter we showed a lack of concentration and Pitesti came back in the game. But we found our rhythm and concentration again and took control of the game."

COACH QUOTES

Pitesti head coach Tudor Costescu"Congratulations to Aalst, they played very well. They had extra-ordinary percentages on 2pts and 3pts. We had problems with scoring with only 5 players scoring out of 9 and we couldn't stop the fast break of Aalstar."

Pitesti player Pankracije Barac"We started very bad and the game was going one direction all the time. We missed a lot of shots, Aalst didn't and played with more energy due to the fact that we had some injuries. I congratulate Aalst to their solid game."

Aalst head coach Brad Dean"By winning this game we did a great job. It wasn't the perfect game. We had periods with a lack of concentration and then we turned the ball over too much. Everyone expected an easy victory but those kind of games are the most difficult to win. My team showed a lot of intensity and they played well together. But Pitesti is a good team. For the return match I don't expect an easy game."

Aalst player John Tofi"We started the game very agressive on both sides. We dit a great job on the open court. We played well together and we have created a lot of big shots. In the second quarter we showed a lack of concentration and Pitesti came back in the game. But we found our rhythm and concentration again and took control of the game."